This is the book I mentioned in yesterday’s sermon:

“Twelve Ordinary Men” by John MacArthur.

This book brings you face to face with each of the disciples Jesus called to share in his mission of “catching men alive” and take the message of the gospel to the world.

It’s a thoroughly enjoyable and challenging read as he draws out insights and calls attention to the lives and characteristics of the men who made up Jesus’ inner circle.

Here’s the quote from the inside cover, that I used in the sermon:

“If you were going to recruit a team to alter the course of history, how would you begin? Jesus began by a lake. “Follow me”, the master told them. And they did. Thus began His uncommon mission with 12 most common individuals: men who became Christ’s very first disciples.

Have you ever considered who Jesus didn’t choose for his inner circle? He didn’t select a rabbi. He didn’t recruit scholars. He didn’t look within the religious establishment to build his team. Any of these would have given him an inside track with those in power. Instead, he assembled a ragtag bunch of folks with unimpressive résumés.

But that was all part of the plan. Jesus wasn’t looking for religious superiority or extraordinary talent. Quite the opposite. Jesus wanted ordinary people – people with hopes and dreams of their own, but people who were willing to leave their lives behind to follow the Saviour.”

The book is available from Amazon.